quote:He is talking about the scrolls of the Hebrew scriptures located at the city where he lived, Jerusalem.

On what do you base this claim ? He seems to be talking about the Hewbrew scriptures in general, not any specific scrolls. And at the time of his death - and likely the time of writing - he was living in Rome.

I really think that you need to learn to read properly. This is hardly the first time you've had serious problems understanding that a book didn't say what you wanted it to say. It seeems to be a defect common to creationists.

Do you think that all references to "the Bible" refer to a specific copy kept in the Vatican or somewhere ? If not, what makes you think that Josephus is referring to specific physical copies kept in a specific place when the quote never suggests any such thing ?

Also, what makes you think that he is writing about the past when the quote comes from an apologetic, not a history ? Why wouldn't he be writing about his present time ?

the temple stood for many centuries before its final destruction by the romans. What was in the temple before 70CE? Are you saying that it did not hold any scriptures in it before its destruction in 70CE.?

quote:the temple stood for many centuries before its final destruction by the romans. What was in the temple before 70CE? Are you saying that it did not hold any scriptures in it before its destruction in 70CE.?

No, I'm disagreeing with your claim that Josephus writing c100CE (your date) must have been talking about specific copies of the Jewish scriptures held at the Temple.

quote:BTW, Josephus's 'day' spanned his whole lifetime...not just the later years of his life when he wrote most of his writings.

Which does not in any way change the date when Contra Apion was written, nor change the fact that the passage in question is about the situation as it was then - not as it wasmore then twenty years earlier.